REVIEW – Better When He’s Bold by Jay Crownover

Title: Better When He’s BoldAuthor: Jay CrownoverSeries: Welcome to the Point #2Release Date: February 3, 2015

Some men are just better when they’re bold.

Welcome to the Point…

In a dark and broken kingdom, a ruler has to be fearless to control the streets and the ruthless people who run them.

Race Hartman is just bold enough, just smart enough, and just lost enough to wear the crown. Places like the Point will always have bad things and bad people, but the man in control of all that badness can minimize the devastation. Race has a plan, but can he prevent total annihilation without destroying himself?

Brysen Carter has always seen her best friend’s brother for what he is–too pretty, too smooth, and way too dangerous to touch. Basking in Race’s golden glow is very tempting, but Brysen knows she’d eventually get burned.

When she starts receiving threatening texts and someone tries to take her out in parking lot, the only person interested in keeping her safe is the one man she can’t allow herself to have.

Sometimes being bold is the only way to stay alive. But can she let Race save her life . . . if it means losing herself to him?

Jay Crownover delivers another thrilling Welcome to the Point novel with Better When He’s Bold. Heading into this story, Race held a lot of intrigue. I wanted to know more about this incredibly bold boy from the wealthy side of town who walked away from it all to run with Bax in the Point. Jay Crownover did not disappoint, delivering a story that was exhilarating, sexy, and full of suspense. Race’s journey was gritty, raw, and unexpected, taking readers on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Brysen and Race have an unexplainable connection fed by their explosive chemistry and the constant threat of danger in the Point. Seemingly opposite, Race and Brysen share the need to protect those they love, exposing them to unexpected threats that will keep your head spinning. The sexual tension between Race and Brysen is off the charts, further fueled by their shared stubbornness. Their constant battle of wills leads to some seriously intense moments ending in deliciously satisfying ways guaranteed to get your blood pumping.

“That was something I struggled with every day. How to get elbow-deep in the filth, get my hands dirty, and not let it change the man I was.”

Jay Crownover writes bad boys like no one else and Race is definitely one of her baddest. The self-proclaimed king of the Point, Race runs with a rough crowd. This character presented an interesting dichotomy, his upbringing at direct odds with his current lifestyle, his emotional vulnerability with Brysen a sharp contrast to his hardened all-business persona. I loved seeing Race’s internal conflict as he learned to balance these two sides of himself. I was a little disappointed that we didn’t get to dive a little deeper into Race’s history, specifically his life before the Point. I think it would have helped readers get a better grasp on what makes him tick and why he makes the decisions he does. However, we do get to catch up with Race’s parents and the new developments concerning them are definitely surprising twists.

“Seems to me that when you add a pretty girl into the mix, that’s when you give a dangerous man something to really be dangerous for.”

Jay Crownover also has quite the talent for crafting strong heroines you can’t help but root for and Brysen definitely fit the bill. Facing an unknown threat and trying to hold her family together, she is easily someone I could sympathize with. I really enjoyed how Jay Crownover developed this character over the course of the story. Brysen felt incredibly genuine, her fear and hesitance to fully enter Race’s world presenting her as undeniably human, while her protective nature and kind heart gave her an easy relatability. As she grew into her role in Race’s life and faced her own issues head on, I found myself captivated by her authenticity and fierce inner strength. Jay Crownover made sure I had no problem connecting with this character in significant ways.

“These guys will take everything you have, Brysen, but in return they will give you everything they’ve got to replace it. That’s a huge commitment to make and you have to be willing to let them and that life fill you up.”

As always, this novel has a fantastic storyline. Better When He’s Bold focuses on Race’s reign over the Point and the unforeseen threats Brysen finds herself facing. As they both fight to keep their respective worlds from crumbling, I found myself lost in Jay Crownover’s raw and tainted universe and the damaged, indomitable characters that live there. Better When He’s Bold is expertly written, pulling me into the action and making me feel every emotion deeply. I enjoyed the plot twists and the reappearance of familiar faces like Bax, Dovie, and Titus. I also found myself drawn towards several new characters, including Booker and Karsen. I’m hoping we’ll be seeing them again very soon. The beginning of the book read a little slow for my taste but once I got to the heart of the story, the action picked up and Jay Crownover had me devouring the rest of this sexy and thrilling novel. Better When He’s Bold is one wild ride and I can’t wait to see what Jay Crownover has up her sleeve next for these colorful characters and the broken city they call home.